Lenticular label manufacture

ABSTRACT

A continuous lenticular label construction including a lenticular assemblies joined with a continuous web so that the lenticules of the assemblies are transverse to the longitudinal axis of the web. A method of manufacture includes: advancing a continuous web of label stock and securing the lenticular assemblies to the continuous web with that lenticules of the lenticular assemblies oriented perpendicular to the length of the continuous web. Optionally, the continuous web defines or includes a window through which the lenticular assemblies are viewed.

This application is continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.10/237,318, filed Sep. 9, 2002 (now pending), which is a divisionalapplication of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/800,868, filed Mar. 7, 2001(now U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,361).

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to labels and more particularly to themanufacture of labels including lenticular lenses.

Lenticular lenses are known and used in the printing of advertising andpromotional materials, packaging labels, hang tags for merchandise,product tags, and security labels. Lenticular lenses are thin,transparent lenses that are flat on one side and include a plurality ofparallel, linear, side-by-side lenticules—elongate, convex lenses—on asecond side. Typically, an image is printed on the flat side to create avisual effect of zoom-in, zoom-out, steroscoping, three-dimensionalsequencing, or movement of the image when viewed through the lenticules.The combination of a lens and an image is referred to as a lenticularassembly.

Lenticular assemblies are manufactured in a continuous web with thelenticules being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the continuousweb. In one manufacturing process, concave machine guides fit over theconvex lenticules as the web advances to ensure exact registrationbetween images printed on the flat side and the lenticules.

In a popular application, the web of lenticular assemblies is applied toa web of transfer tape on a release liner or carrier web. The adheredlenticular assemblies and tape are die cut to create a continuous web ofpressure sensitive lenticular labels. The resultant product is acontinuous web of lenticular labels having the lenticules orientedparallel to one another and the length or the longitudinal axis of theweb.

The resulting web of lenticular labels suffers a number of shortcomings.Most significantly, the orientation of the lenticules extending thelength of the label web governs the orientation of the desired visualeffect. Specifically, as a result of the lenticules' orientation, theintended visual effect on the continuous label web may be viewed in onlytwo ways; (1) by rotating the continuous web along an axis parallel tothe length of the web, and (2) by moving the web so that a viewer'ssight line moves across the width of the web, that is, perpendicular tothe length of the web.

When labels are applied from the resulting web to objects, such asbottles, using conventional labeling equipment, the lenticules areoriented circumferentially on the object (i.e. perpendicular to theheight of the object). Consequently, the visual effect occurs only whenthe viewer and the labeled object move vertically relative to oneanother. Because continuous lenticular assemblies are available onlywith lenticules parallel to the direction of travel, the conditionsunder which the visual effects occur have been limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned problems are overcome in the present inventionwherein the lenticules of lenticular labels on a continuous web areoriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the web.

In one embodiment, a process of manufacturing the web includes:providing a continuous web of label stock; joining a plurality oflenticular assemblies with the continuous web, the lenticules of thelenticular assemblies transverse to the length of the continuous web;and optionally die-cutting the lenticular assembly/label stock to formindividual labels.

In another embodiment, a process of manufacturing the web includes:providing a continuous web of label stock that defines or includes awindow, joining lenticular assemblies with the continuous web with thelenticules of the lenticular assemblies transverse to the length of thecontinuous web and the lenticular assemblies at least partially visiblethrough the window; and optionally die-cutting the lenticularassembly/label stock to form individual labels.

When the lenticular labels are applied with conventional continuouslabeling equipment to a vertically standing article, for example, abottle, the desired visual effect is perceived by a viewer either (1) asthe article is rotated about its longitudinal axis or (2) as the viewerwalks past the vertically standing article.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention willbe more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the continuous lenticular label webmanufacturing process of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the continuous lenticular label webmanufacturing process with individual lenticular labels being formed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of individual lenticular labels beingapplied from a web onto articles;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of individual lenticular labels being appliedfrom a web onto articles;

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a viewer perceiving a lenticular labelmanufactured according to the process of the present invention andapplied;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first alternative construction of alenticular assembly of the continuous lenticular label web;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second alternative construction of alenticular assembly of the continuous lenticular label web;.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the continuous lenticular label webmanufacturing process with lenticular labels of the second alternativeconstruction being formed; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of individual lenticular labels of thesecond alternative construction being applied from a web onto articles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the preferred embodiment, the present invention is described inconnection with the manufacture of a continuous lenticular label web andthe application of individual labels to articles. With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, the lenticular label web 10 of the preferred embodimentis constructed from sheets of lenticular assemblies 20 secured to alabel assembly 50, which is in the form of a continuous web.

The lenticular assembly 20 includes a lenticular lens 24 associated witha visual effect image 22 to provide an illusion. As desired, a pluralityof images 22 may be associated in any configuration on the lenticularassembly 20. The visual effect image 22 may include any combination ofgraphics, text, or other visual information. As used herein, “visualeffect image” means an image that creates illusions such as “flips”,“3-D” or stereographic, full motion video, “morphing”, and/or zooming. A“flip” represents an abrupt change from one viewed image to another,different image “3-D” effects produce an illusion of depth for an objectbeing viewed. Full motion video produces a sense of movement of anobject being viewed as the viewing angle changes. “Morphing” produces anillusion of a metamorphosis (transition) from one image to another asthe viewing angle changes. Zooming presents a size change in an objectbeing viewed, the object appearing to move either closer to, or awayfrom, the viewer.

The lenticular assembly 20 may be of various constructions, includingthe preferred construction depicted in FIG. 1, where lenticular lens 24has an image printed on the flat side 26, opposite the lenticules 28.The image may be printed on the flat side 26 using conventionallenticular lens printing methods, which precisely register the images 22with the lenticules 28 to ensure the image is viewed through thelenticular lens with the intended visual effect.

In the preferred embodiment, depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lenticularassemblies 20 are provided in sheet form. The lenticular assemblies 20are secured to the continuous web of label assemblies 50 so that thedirection L in which the lenticules extend in parallel is offset someangle A from the direction W coincident with the length of thecontinuous web, also known as the direction/line of advancement, or thedirection/line of travel of the web. Optionally, the lenticules ofadjacent lenticular assemblies are also aligned substantially parallelto one another. The lenticular assemblies 20 may be secured to thecontinuous web of label assemblies 50 with any suitable adhesive, butpreferably with permanent adhesive 52.

The label assembly 50 is preferably in continuous web form. As shown inFIGS. 1-3, label assembly 50 includes label stock web 56, which may beconstructed of any suitable material or combination of materialsincluding, but not limited to paper, plastic, or metal foil. On a firstside of the stock 56, an adhesive 52 is disposed to secure sheets oflenticular assemblies 20 to the label assembly 50. The adhesive is aconventional permanent adhesive, but other adhesives may be used as theapplication requires. On the opposite side of the stock 56, a secondadhesive 58 is disposed. This adhesive 58 is preferably a pressuresensitive adhesive, but also may be any conventional adhesive as theapplication requires.

Adhesive 58 secures stock 56, and ultimately the web of label assemblymaterial 50 to liner 60, which is preferably a silicone coated releaseliner, but may be any suitable carrier liner.

In a first alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, the lenticularassembly 120 includes a lenticular lens 124 secured with a conventionaladhesive 129 to lenticular stock 130 on the flat side 126 of thelenticular lens 124, opposite the lenticules. The lenticular stock 130has an image 122 printed thereon that is aligned with the lenticules 128to provide a viewing effect. The lenticular stock 130 may be constructedof any material or combination of materials including, but not limitedto paper, plastic, or metal foil. The lenticular assemblies 120 as shownare secured to the continuous web 50 so that the direction L in whichthe lenticules extend substantially in parallel is offset some angle Afrom the direction W, which is coincident with the length of thecontinuous web, also known as the direction/line of advancement, or thedirection/line of travel of the web. Optionally, the lenticules ofadjacent lenticular assemblies are also aligned substantially parallelto one another.

In a second alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, the lenticularassemblies 220 are secured to a continuous web 250. The continuous web250 is constructed of stock 256, which includes on at least one side anadhesive 258. A window 282 is defined in the stock 256, and extends fromthe top of the stock to the bottom of the stock. This window enables aviewer to view the lenticular assembly 220 through the stock. In analternative construction, the stock 256 includes a transparent and/orsemi-transparent window 280. This window 280 may be constructed byincluding print in the region surrounding the window, or constructingthe stock so that the material in the region of the window istransparent and/or semi-transparent, and the material in the regionaround the window is not transparent and/or semi-transparent. Asdesired, however, the entire stock 250 may be transparent and/orsemi-transparent. Moreover, either or both types of windows 280 and 282may be used in a continuous web 250 as desired.

The lenticular assemblies 220 shown in FIG. 7 may be of any of the typesdescribed above, for example, a lenticular assembly including alenticular lens 224 and an image 222 printed on the reverse side, or anassembly including a lenticular lens 224, lenticular stock 230 with animage 222 printed thereon, and an adhesive 229 that secures the stock tothe lens 224 in an aligned manner. The images 222 of the assemblies mayextend to the edges of the lenticular lens, or may terminate short ofthe edges to provide a margin 225 around all or a part of the image.Optionally, the margin 225 may include print, and may be adhered to thelabel stock 250. In this optional construction, a portion of the printin the margin may be concealed. Other conventional lenticular assembliesmay be substituted as desired.

The dimensions of the lenticular assemblies may be selected so that thedesired portion and/or all of the images 222 are viewable through thewindow 280 or 282, depending on the construction. For example, theassemblies may extend across the entire width of the stock 256, or beshorter or longer than that width as desired.

The lenticular assemblies of the construction shown in FIG. 7 aresecured to the continuous web with an adhesive 258. When secured, thedirection L in which the lenticules 228 extend in parallel is offsetsome angle A from the direction W, which is coincident with the lengthof the continuous web, also known as the direction/line of advancement,or the direction/line of travel of the web. Optionally, the lenticulesof adjacent lenticular assemblies are also aligned substantiallyparallel to one another.

Method of Manufacture

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, there will now be described the preferredprocess of the present invention of manufacturing a continuouslenticular label web. Individual labels from the continuous webmanufactured by the preferred process are preferably applied usingconventional labeling equipment to vertically standing articles.

The preferred process generally includes the steps: providing multiplelenticular assemblies; providing a continuous web of label stock andjoining the lenticular assemblies to the continuous web so thatlenticules of the lenticular assemblies extend in a direction that isoffset a pre-selected angle from a direction coincident with the lengthof the continuous web.

As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lenticular assemblies 20 are providedin sheet form. With conventional equipment, the sheets are positioned onthe permanent adhesive 52 to secure the sheets of the lenticularassemblies 20 to the label assembly web 50. When the sheets are adheredto the web 50, the lenticules 28 of the sheets of lenticular assemblies20 extend in direction L which is non-coincident with and at some angleA from direction W. Angle A is between about 0 and 180 degrees,preferably, between about 45 and 135 degrees, more preferably, about 80to about 110 degrees, and most preferably, about 90 degrees. At about 90degrees (depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2), the direction in which thelenticules extend L is substantially perpendicular to direction W. Thesheets of the lenticular assemblies 20, depicted in the figures asrectangular, may be of any shape or size and may include any number ofvisual effect images to form individual lenticular labels.

When the sheets of lenticular assemblies 20 are successfully adhered tothe label assembly web 50, the resultant combination is a lenticularlabel assembly web 70. The web 70 is advanced to a conventional cuttingstation 75 where individual lenticular labels 80 are cut. The cuttingstation may implement any conventional cutting method to cut the web,such as roller die-cut (as shown) or laser cut methods. The web may alsobe cut into labels in any conventional manner, for example bybutt-cutting the labels, where no skeleton waste from excess material iscreated, or by skeleton cutting the labels, where such waste is created.If skeleton cutting methods are used, the waste matrix 84 generated maybe removed from the web 70 and rolled on collector 92, as shown in FIG.2.

The individual lenticular labels 80 created remain on the release liner60. The lenticules 28 of the individual labels 80 remain oriented andextending in the same direction L as when the lenticular assemblies werefirst positioned on the label assembly web. Accordingly, in thepreferred process, all the labels 80 on the web have lenticulesextending in direction L, which is about perpendicular to direction W.

Additionally, the lenticular label web may be cut into sub-webs 72 thatinclude single rows of lenticular labels 80 on the release liner 60.This is so the labels from the sub-webs 72 can easily be applied onindividual articles one at a time. The sub-web cutting may be performedin any conventional manner. As depicted in FIG. 2, roller die-cutter 98cuts the sub-webs 72.

In another step, the individual labels 80 are applied to articles 100using the conventional continuous labeling equipment as depicted inFIGS. 3 and 4. As depicted, the lenticular label sub-web 72 includesonly one row of labels 80. The labels 80 are positioned at applicationstation 94 immediately adjacent the article, here depicted as acylindrical container 100. Without rotating the label 80 to change thelenticule orientation L, the article 100 is rotated adjacent the label80 with belts 95 and 97 and plate 93 as depicted. The label 80, ispeeled off the sub-web 72 with peel knife 91. By way of the pressuresensitive adhesive thereon, the label 80 catches and adheres onto andaround the article 100. As the article rotates, the label 80 is peeledoff liner 60 and wraps onto the article 100. The liner 60 is guided awayfrom the application station 94 and collected by liner guide 96. Thelabeled article 101 is conveyed away from the application station 94 byconveyor 97 and another article is labeled.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the label 80 applied to the article 100according to the preferred process is consequently oriented so thelenticules extend in parallel in direction L, which is substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis C of the cylindrical article 101. Asdepicted in FIG. 5, with the orientation of the lenticules L parallelwith the longitudinal axis C, the intended visual effect image isviewable by a viewer V when the article 101 is rotationally translatedor horizontally translated. Rotationally translated means rotated aboutthe longitudinal axis C of the article 101 in direction R as shown inFIG. 5. Translated horizontally means moved across the viewer's line ofsight S in direction H as depicted in FIG. 5. Of course, horizontaltranslation may occur when the article 101 itself is moved by a viewer,or when a viewer walks past an article, for example, when a viewer walkspast an article displayed on a shelf.

The first alternative lenticular label construction shown in FIG. 6 maybe manufactured and used in a manner similar to that described above.

The second alternative label construction, shown in FIG. 7, also may bemanufactured and used in manner similar to that above with minormodifications. More specifically, the process for manufacturing thesecond alternative construction generally includes: providing acontinuous web of label stock that defines or includes a window, joininglenticular assemblies on the continuous web with the lenticules of thelenticular assemblies transverse to the length of the continuous web andthe lenticular assemblies at least partially visible through the window;and optionally die-cutting the lenticular assembly/label stock to formindividual labels.

As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the lenticular assemblies 220 are provided instrips or sheets 290. These sheets, shown in broken lines in FIG. 8, aresecured to the stock 256. Each individual assembly 220 included in thesheets 290 is aligned with windows 282 so that the assembly, and anyimage, in whole or in part, on the assembly is viewable through thewindow. The release liner 260 is secured to the stock 256 to create aresultant lenticular label assembly web 270. Once constructed, thelenticules 228 of the sheets 290 of lenticular assemblies 220 extend indirection L which is non-coincident with and at some angle A fromdirection W. Angle A may be any angle discussed above in connection withthe first embodiment.

In another step, the web 270 advances to the cutting station 275 whereindividual lenticular labels 280 are cut according to the methodsdescribed above in connection with the first embodiment. After cutting,the individual lenticular labels 280, each including its own lenticularassembly 220, remain on the release liner 260, with the lenticules 228of the individual labels 280 oriented and extending in direction L,which is about perpendicular to direction W. The lenticular label web270 then may be cut into sub-webs 272 in a conventional manner toinclude single rows of lenticular labels 280 on the release liner 260.

In another step, the individual labels 280 of the second alternativeembodiment are applied to articles 200 from the sub-web 272 using thecontinuous labeling equipment shown in FIG. 9. Specifically, the labels280 are positioned adjacent the article 200 (shown as a cylindricalcontainer bottle) the article 200 is rotated, and the label 280 ispeeled-off the sub-web 272 with peel knife 291. By way of the pressuresensitive adhesive thereon, the label 280 catches and adheres onto andaround the article 200. As the article rotates, the label 280 wraps ontothe article 200. The liner 260 is guided away from the container andcollected by liner guide 296. The labeled article 201 is conveyed byconveyor 97 and another article is labeled.

With further reference to FIG. 9, the label 280 applied to the article201 is oriented so the lenticules extend in parallel in direction L,which is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis C of thecylindrical article 201. This orientation creates the same viewingeffect as described above and shown in FIG. 5.

The above descriptions are those of the preferred embodiments of theinvention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departingfrom the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in theappended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with theprinciples of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Anyreferences to claim elements in the singular, for example, using thearticles “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said,” is not to be construed as limitingthe element to the singular.

1. A continuous web of lenticular labels comprising: a label stockhaving a longitudinal axis; a first lenticular assembly including firstlenticules adhered to the label stock, said first lenticules transverseto the longitudinal axis, said first lenticular assembly and said labelstock forming a first lenticular label; a second lenticular assemblyincluding second lenticules adhered to the label stock, said secondlenticules transverse to the longitudinal axis, said second lenticularassembly and said label stock forming a second lenticular label, saidfirst and second lenticular assemblies disposed on the label stock sothat the first lenticules and the second lenticules are substantiallyparallel to one another; and a release liner secured to at least one ofthe label stock and the first and second lenticular assemblies. 2.-6.(canceled)
 7. The continuous web of lenticular labels of claim 1 whereinthe first and second lenticular assemblies each include a visual imageeffect printed thereon, and wherein each visual image effect isperceived by an operator when the operator views the first and secondlenticular assemblies along a plane substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis.
 8. A continuous web of lenticular labels comprising:a continuous label stock including a longitudinal axis and an adhesive;a plurality of lenticular assemblies, each including lenticules, saidplurality of lenticular assemblies adhered to said continuous labelstock with said adhesive wherein said lenticules are substantiallytransverse to said longitudinal axis and substantially parallel to oneanother.
 9. (canceled)
 10. The continuous web of lenticular labels ofclaim 8 wherein each of said plurality of lenticular assemblies includea base disposed opposite the lenticules and an image printed on thebase.
 11. The continuous web of lenticular labels of claim 8 whereinsaid plurality of lenticular assemblies each include a base opposite thelenticules, and a lenticular stock including an image printed thereon,said lenticular stock adhered to said base.
 12. The continuous web oflenticular labels of claim 8 wherein the lenticular assemblies areoriented on the continuous label stock in side-by-side relation. 13.(canceled)
 14. The container label system of claim 13 comprising awindow in the base label through which the images are viewed.
 15. Thecontainer label system of claim 13 wherein the base label defines awindow, and wherein the lenticular assembly is positioned between thebase label and the container and at least partially viewable through thewindow.
 16. The container label system of claim 13 wherein the baselabel includes a window, and wherein the lenticular assembly ispositioned between the base label and the container and at leastpartially viewable through the window. 17.-20. (canceled)